Vehicle washing system

ABSTRACT

A system is disclosed for washing vehicles, and particularly large commercial vehicles such as trucks, which includes means for adding treatment fluids such as pickling acid or liquid soap to the wash water by means of fluid eductors. A variable amount of air may be entrained within the treatment fluid line to reduce the suction effect of the eductor, and hence draw a greater or lesser amount of treatment fluid to be mixed with the wash water. The amount of air entrained may be controlled by solenoidactuated valves associated with the air inlet. A single pump is provided for pressurizing all of the fluid lines; additionally, a bypass is provided for the pump whereby the system may be drawn off any source of water under pressure, such as a city watermain.

United States Patent Lafferty 51 Aug. 15, 1972 [54] VEHICLE WASHINGSYSTEM Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. [72] Inventor: Tom Lafferty,Route 6, Box 147, Asslstam 'i f i Gram North Little Rock, Ark 721 18AttorneyJac0b1, Lllhng & Siegel 22 Filed: Nov. 12, 1970 57 ABSTRACTAppl. No.: 88,918

US. Cl ..239/311 [51] Int. Cl ..'A62c 5/04 [58] Field ofSearch...'...239/303, 304, 305, 310, 317, 239/335, 311

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,763,046 6/1930 Heimburger..239/304 3,103,312 9/1963 Damrow ..239/304 X 3,433,417 3/1969 Poppitz..239/304 3,058,668 10/1962 Harmes et al 239/305 3,438,583 4/1969Lawrence ..239/305 A system is disclosed for washing vehicles, andparticularly large commercial vehicles such as trucks, which includesmeans for adding treatment fluids such as pickling acid or liquid soapto the wash water by means of fluid eductors. A variable amount of airmay be entrained within the treatment fluid line to reduce the suctioneffect of the eductor, and hence draw' a greater or lesser amount oftreatment fluid to be mixed with the wash water. The amount of airentrained may be controlled by solenoid-actuated valves associated withthe air inlet. A single pump is provided for pressurizing all of v thefluid lines; additionally, a bypass is provided for the pump whereby thesystem may be drawn off any source of water under pressure, such as acity watermain.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Treatment Fluid PATENTEDAus 15 I972 SHEET 1[IF 2 INVENTOR TOM LAFFERTY BY Jamal, BBQ/060M, Uum $5M ATTORNEYPATENTEDAUB 15 m2 SHEET 2 OF 2 N QFK INVENTOR TOM LAFFERTY BY JacdzDav/o Lilli ATTORNEY VEHICLE WASHING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to fluid systems for washing vehicles,and particularly to such a system which includes means to mix atreatment fluid, such as soap or a pickling acid solution, to the waterused for washing.

Systems for washing vehicles are well known in the art, and may range incomplexity from a simple water hose or the like, including means forapplying soap, to fully-automated installations which wash, rinse andbrush the vehicle and include means to convey the vehicle through theinstallation. Such systems generally include as a minimum, means toselectively apply soap to a vehicle either through a separate conduitfrom that used for the water, or added to the water flow.

It is further known, particularly when washing large commercial vehiclessuch as trucks, that the addition of a solution of a pickling acid tothe water has proven advantageous in removing scale and oxide depositsfrom vehicle bodies, particularly aluminum truck bodies, encrusted withsuch deposits and brightening in appearance the vehicle body. In knowninstallations for washing such commercial vehicles where means foraddition of acid solution were provided, such means generally comprisedvarious types of metering solenoid valves for metering a desiredproportion of the acid solution into the wash water. Due to thecorrosive nature of the acid solution used, such metering solenoidvalves were required to be constructed of corrosion-resistant materials,thus substantially increasing the expenses required in constructing andmaintaining such installations. Frequently, the cost of including suchacid-treating means thus proved prohibitive.

In the event that comparatively non-corrosive treatment fluids such asliquid soap were added to the wash water, such known washing systemshave generally required complicated interlocking of pumps and valves toeffect proportioning of the additive treatment fluids with the water.Thus, a plurality of pumps were required for the various water supplylines and the treatment fluid lines. This also has resulted in increasedcosts related to construction and maintenance of such known systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the above background in mind, it istherefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a vehiclewashing system which overcomes the abovementioned drawbacks of the priorart.

Specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide such a vehiclewashing system which comprises a simple val-ving arrangement.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a vehiclewashing system which requires only a single source of pressurized water,and preferably includes a single pump for pressurizing all lines.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide such a vehiclewashing system including means to add a corrosive additive fluid, suchas a pickling acid solution, without the need for corrosion-resistantconstruction of pumps and solenoid valves.

These as well as other objects of the invention which will becomeapparent as the description proceeds, are implemented by the presentinvention, characterized by a system for washing vehicles, andparticularly large commercial vehicles such as trucks, wherein atreatment fluid such as a pickling acid solution is selectively added tothe wash water by mean of eductors. At least one air inlet is connectedto the treatment fluid line by a solenoid valve whereby the negativepressure induced within the treatment fluid line by its respectiveeductor may be reduced to correspondingly lower the amount of treatmentfluid added to the wash water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONReferring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown schematically a typical vehicle washing system constructed inaccordance with the present invention. A vehicle is moved through thesystem in the direction indicated by arrow 10; the vehicle may be eitherdriven under its own power or may be conveyed by suitable conveyingmeans, not shown. The vehicle passes sequentially through a wheel washstation 12, a tractor wash station 14, a wheel rinse station 16, an acidwash station 18, and'a final high pressure rinse station 20.Additionally, the vehicle may thereafter pass through a further brushand rinse station and drying station, not shown. At the entrance to theinstallation, adjacent the wheel wash station 12, there is furtherlocated a bug sprayer unit 22a by means of which a bug remover solutionmay be selectively applied to the vehicle.

Incoming water is submitted to the system by means of inlet conduit 22which may, for example, be connected to a standard city watermain or thelike. The water than passes through a booster pump 24, which raises thepressure of the incoming water to a suitable level for use in theremainder of the system. A bypass line 26 is provided around the pump24, and the bypass line 26 and pump 24 are provided with valves 28 and30, respectively, by which the incoming water may be routed eitherthrough the pump or through the bypass line.

From the pump 24, the incoming cold water passes through a first coldwater conduit 32 to the final rinse station 20, and through a secondcold water conduit 34 to the wheel rinse station 16. A branch conduit 36leads from the pump to a suitable hot water tank 38, which heats thewater to an elevated temperature for use in these treatment stationsrequiring hot water. From the hot water tank, hot water passes by meansof a first hot water conduit 40 to the acid rinse station 1 8, throughthe second hot water conduit 42 to the tractor wash station 14, andthrough a third hot water conduit 44 to the wheel rinse station 12 andthe bug sprayer unit 22a. In

this manner, it will be seen that the pump 24 pressurizes all of thecold water lines and hot water lines to ensure a proper delivery ofwater at each of the respective treatment stations.

Preferably, each of the wash stations l2, l4 and 18, as well as the bugsprayer unit 22a, includes means for introducing a treatment fluid intothe water to provide a suitable mixture for treating the vehicle beingwashed. Thus, for example, a liquid soap may be introduced to the wheelwash station 12 and the tractor wash station 14, and a solution ofpickling acid may be added to the acid wash station 18. In FIG. 2, thereis shown a preferred arrangement for introducing the treatment fluidinto the water conduit in a desired concentration. in this Figure, thetreatment fluid-addition arrangement is shown specifically for adding apickling acid solution to the hot water conduit 40 of acid wash station18, although it will be understood that the same general arrangement isused for adding liquid soap to wash stations 12 and 14, or bug sprayersolution to bug sprayer unit 22a. In this Figure, hot water from the hotwater tank enters through hot water conduit 40 and passes into a secondconduit 46 in which there is located a solenoid control valve 48 and aone-way check valve 50 for preventing reverse flow of the water. Fromcheck valve 50, the conduit 46 branches in two directions to conduits 52and 54, each of which is in communication with one of the fluid eductors56 and 58, respectively, which eductors, in known manner, create aventuri-effect reduced pressure within a supply conduit 60 connected toa source of treatment fluid, in this case a pickling acid solution. Theconduit 60 branches into two conduits 62 and 64, which conduits arerespectively connected by T-fittings 66 and 68 to I treatment fluidsupply lines 70 and 72. These supply lines 70 and 72 respectivelycommunicate with the above-mentioned eductors 56 and 58, respectively,and are provided with one-way check valves 74 and 76 to prevent backflowof the water-treatment fluid mixture into the lines 70 and 72.

From the eductors 56 and 58, the conduits 52 and 54, now carrying thetreatment fluid-water mixture, may again join to form a single dischargeconduit 78 as illustrated, which, in turn, communicates with individualdischarge nozzle lines 80, 82 and 84, which, as best seen in FIG. 1,direct the discharge mixture through suitable discharge nozzles onto thevehicle front, sides, and rear, respectively. Alternatively, thedischarge mixture could be directed through only one of the dischargenozzle lines 80, 82 or 84, additional eductor arrangements beingseparately provided for the other discharge nozzle lines. Furthermore,and as should be apparent, conduits 52 and 54 need not join to form thesingle discharge conduit 78 but instead may remain as separate conduitscommunicating with different discharge nozzle lines of the system.

In any event, and again referring to the illustrated embodiment, it willbe appreciated that water entering through conduits and 46, branchesthrough conduits 52 and S4 to the eductors 56 and 58, and entrains thetreatment fluid passing through conduits 70 and 72. The mixture thenpasses outwardly through discharge conduit 78 to the respectivedischarge nozzle lines 80, 82 and 84 and is sprayed upon the vehicle.

Relative proportions of the treatment fluid and the water may be variedto permit selection of a desired concentration of the mixture. For thispurpose, solenoid valve-controlled air inlet means are providedcommunicating with each of the T-fittings 66 and 68, and hence therespective treatment fluid lines and 72. As shown at the left side ofFIG. 2, a first air conduit connects with T-fitting 66 and branches tocommunicate at its other end with a first solenoid valve 88 and airintake 90, and a second solenoid valve 92 and air intake 94. In similarmanner, a second air conduit 96 communicates at one end with T-fltting68 and branches at its other end to a third solenoid valve 98' and airintake 100 and fourth solenoid valve 102 and air intake 104; it will beunderstood that all of the air intakes 90, 94, 100 and 104 are open tothe outside air. It will befurther seen from the drawing that the twoair intakes and 94 associated with air conduit 86 are of differentdiameters, and likewise the two air intakes and 104 associated with airconduit 96 are of two different diameters. In this manner, opening oneor the other or both of the solenoid valves 88 and 92, or one or theother or both of the solenoid valves 98 and 102, will permit a variedamount of air to be admitted into the respective air conduit 86 or 96,and hence into the respective treatment fluid lines 70 or 72. It will beappreciated that as a greater amount of air is admitted into therespective treatment fluid line, the negative pressure effect of therespective fluid eductor 56m 58 will be consequently reduced, andaccordingly, the amount of treatment fluid introduced into therespective eductor and mixed with the water will be correspondinglyreduced. Thus, by varying the amount of air admitted, the concentrationof the discharge fluid may be controlled. Suitable control means 106 areassociated with the solenoid valves 88, 92, 98 and 102, so that the twosmall air intakes 94 and 100, or the two large air intakes 90 and 104,or none, or all of the intakes may be opened, thus varying the amount ofair introduced to the system.

It will be appreciated that a single fluid inlet and eductor, as well asa single treatment fluid line and associated solenoid valve, may beutilized; however, the use of two eductors connected in parallel to eachother is preferred, inasmuch as smaller eductors may then be used for agiven volume of fluid handled, it being well known that such eductorsare more efficient when such small diameters are utilized. With the useof two such eductors 56 and 58, it therefore becomes desirable to usetwo separate fluid inlet lines 70 and 72, and their associated airinlets, in order to maintain a substantially uniform flow of treatmentfluid to each of the eductors 56 and 58.

An auxiliary treatment fluid line may also be provided for connection toa flexible hose or the like, for treating parts of the vehicle which maynot be readily accessible from the stationary nozzle lines 80, 82 and84. For this purpose, an auxiliary treatment fluid line 108 branchesfrom the treatment fluid inlet conduit 60, and an auxiliary water inletline 112 branches from the water inlet conduits 40 and 46, these twolines passing through an auxiliary eductor 110, which eductor functionsin the same manner as eductors 56 and 58 previously described. Fromeductor 110, the mixture then passes through discharge conduit 114,which may, for

example, comprise a flexible hose or the like for directing the mixturefluid to any desired location. A foot valve 116 may be provided in theauxiliary treatment fluid line 108 for controlling the flow of fluidtherefrom.

As is fairly conventional in vehicle washing installations, a take-offfitting and valve indicated as 118 (FIG. 1) may be connected to anyconvenient water line, in this case indicated as conduit 34. Thistake-off may be connected to a flexible hose or the like for use incleaning the overall installation.

Inasmuch as only a single pump 24 is provided for the entire system,which pump is located in'the water intake line, it is clear that thispump may be of conventional construction and need not be ofcorrosion-resistant construction, inasmuch as the corrosive picklingacid solution or the like is added to the water conduits by means ofeductors and hence no pumping means is needed for the treatment fluidper se. Similarly, since the control means for the concentration of thetreatment fluid comprises solenoid valves in the air intakes thereof,there is no need for these valves to be of corrosion-resistantconstruction. Thus, it will be seen that the only corrosion-resistantconstruction needed is in the actual conduits used for the treatmentfluid lines, and to some extent, the discharge nozzle lines, although toa lesser extent inasmuch as the mixture in the latter is considerablydiluted.

By constructing a vehicle washing system as described above, it willbecome apparent that all the objects set forth at the outset of thespecification have been successfully fulfilled.

What is claimed is:

l. A vehicle washing system comprising a source of water under pressure,at least one discharge nozzlefor directing water upon the vehicle beingwashed, fluid conduit means connecting said source of water to saidnozzle, eductor means located in said fluid conduit for mixing treatmentfluid with the water in said conduit, a source of treatment fluid,treatment fluid conduit means communicating said source of fluid withsaid eductor means, and control means for varying the proportion oftreatment fluid mixed with the water in said eductor; said control meanscomprising apair of air intakes in communication with said, treatmentfluid conduit means, and solenoid valve means within each of said airintakes for selectively admitting air to said treatment fluid'conduitmeans and thereby reducing the amount of treatment fluid drawn into saideductor; and said air intakes being of different diameters, whereby oneor both of said air intakes may be selectively put in communication withsaid treatment fluid conduit means.

2. vehicle washing system as defined in claim 1, wherein said two ofsaid eductors are provided, said fluid'conduit means branching tocommunicate with each of said eductors and rejoining following saideductors into a single discharge conduit, and said treatment fluidconduit means likewise branching to communicate with each of saideductors.

3. A vehicle washing system as defined in claim 2, wherein two pairs ofsaid air intake means are provided, each of said air intake meanscomprising a large diameter intake and a small diameter intake, and eachof said air intake means communicating with one branch of saidtreatrpen; flu id c ond uit means.

1. A vehicle washing system comprising a source of water under pressure,at least one discharge nozzle for directing water upon the vehicle beingwashed, fluid conduit means connecting said source of water to saidnozzle, eductor means located in said fluid conduit for mixing treatmentfluid with the water in said conduit, a source of treatment fluid,treatment fluid conduit means communicating said source of fluid withsaid eductor means, and control means for varying the proportion oftreatment fluid mixed with the water in said eductor; said control meanscomprising a pair of air intakes in communication with said treatmentfluid conduit means, and solenoid valve means within each of said airintakes for selectively admitting air to said treatment fluid conduitmeans and thereby reducing the amount of treatment fluid drawn into saideductor; and said air intakes being of different diameters, whereby oneor both of said air intakes may be selectively put in communication withsaid treatment fluid conduit means.
 2. A vehicle washing system asdefined in claim 1, wherein said two of said eductors are provided, saidfluid conduit means branching to communicate with each of said eductorsand rejoining following said eductors into a single discharge conduit,and said treatment fluid conduit means likewise branching to communicatewith each of said eductors.
 3. A vehicle washing system as defined inclaim 2, wherein two pairs of said air intake means are provided, eachof said air intake means comprising a large diameter intake and a smalldiameter intake, and each of said air intake means communicating withone branch of said treatment fluid conduit means.